Connector unit having radial arms for straight or angular connections

ABSTRACT

In a toy building set, connector units have a plurality of relatively angularly disposed connector arms radiation from a common center for each unit with each arm having a generally cylindrical or spherical male connector portion, or both, which serve as releasable connecting members for press-fitting insertion through openings in sheets of selected shapes and tubes of selected lengths. The tubes are constructed to expand when fitted over the spherical male portions to provide a tenacious grip with a substantial degree of angular movement therebetween. Shoulder portions on the connector arms may be provided to limit the extent of movement of the sheets and tubes along the connector arms for square corners and resulting structures which conform to a selected scale.

United States Patent Ogsbury et al. 1 Mar. 14, 11972 [54] CONNECTOR UNITHAVING RADIAL 3,458,949 8/1969 Young ..46/29 x ARMS F R STRAIGHT 0RANGULAR 3,469,339 9/1969 Thomas ..46/28 CONNECTIONS [72] Inventors:Charles S. Ogsbury, Gold Hill; Don C. Witte, Salina Star Route, Boulder,both of C010.

[22] Filed: Apr. 14, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 815,605

[52] U.S.Cl ..46/29,46/31 [51] Int. C1 ..A63h 33/10, A63h 33/12 [58]Field of Search ..46/22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 46/31; 35/18.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,414,716 1/1947 Carson..46/31 3,176,428 4/1965 Slingluff ....46/29 X 1,817,775 8/1931 Sipe46/29 UX 2,410,874 1 1/1946 Greenberg et al. ..46/29 2,810,233 10/1957.lakobsen ....46/28 2,920,400 1/ 1960 Subluskey.. .35/ 18.5 2,972,8332/1961 Grutta ..46/25 3,195,266 7/1965 Onanian..... ....46/29 R3,405,479 10/ 1968 Paulson ..46/27 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS246,854 9/1963 Australia...

643,875 7/1962 Canada ...46/28 1,401,015 4/1965 France... ....46/3l832,726 7/1938 France ..46/29 Primary Examiner-F. Barry ShayAttorney-John E. Reilly [57] ABSTRACT when fitted over the sphericalmale portions to provide a tena cious grip with a substantial degree ofangular movement therebetween. Shoulder portions on the connector armsmay be provided to limit the extent of movement of the sheets and tubesalong the connector arms for square corners and resulting structureswhich conform to a selected scale.

7 1 Claim, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 IN VENTOR S. OGSBURY DON C. W/TTE CHARLES A TTORNE Y PATENTEBMAR 14 m2 5INVENTOR. CHARLES S. OGSBURY DON C. WI TTE BY l,

A'TTOZIY CONNECTOR UNIT IIAVING RADIAL ARMS FOlR STRAIGHT R ANGULARCONNECTIONS This invention relates to construction toys and moreparticularly to toys adapted for releasable connection with tubes andapertured sheets and is related to our copending application entitledReleasably Interlocking Toys and Connectable Members Therefor.

As noted in our copending application, toy construction sets maychallenge the creative ability of the user according to the possibleinterconnection between units and of necessity the toys require a highdegree of mechanical strength. In the past construction toys havegenerally been composed of relatively complex parts with a limiteddegree of versatility as to possible combinations and the results havebeen unnecessarily expensive in manufacturing and generally prior setshave not had adequate flexibility with full ease of assembly anddisassembly.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a plurality ofsimple and durable toy connector units which may be connected to otherapertured toys in a variety of ways and are relatively easy to assemblyand disassemble.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of connectorunits which are inexpensive to manufacture and combinable with otherrelatively inexpensive members, such as, rods, tubes and aperturedsheets in a manner to afiord versatility as well as high mechanicalstrength.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a combinationconnector unit and tube assembly whereby a terminal spherical endportion expands the tube upon insertion therein to form a strong andversatile flexible connection therebetween.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a toyconstruction set including connector units having a plurality ofrelatively angularly disposed terminal spherical or cylindricalconnector portions or both, usable as comer-type pieces for releasablyconnecting with pliable tubes or apertured sheets to form desiredshapes.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a toyconstruction set composed of relatively inexpensive tubes and aperturedsheets having openings of uniform diameter and connector units having aplurality of relatively angularly disposed connector arms havinggenerally spherical or cylindrical male connector portions of uniformsizes to press-fit into the openings to make up a variety of structures.

In accordance with the present invention, a construction set has aplurality of connector units having relatively angularly disposedconnector arms with terminal spherical or cylindrical male connectorportions arranged about a common center for interconnection with a tubeof selected size and lengths, or apertured sheet material of selectedshapes, or a combination of both, the openings in the tubes and sheetsbeing of a uniform diameter. These connector units serve as connectingmembers for the tubes or apertured sheets to establish different angularconnections and arrangements in the formation of toy structures. Thetubes are pliable and proportioned in size to expand when fitted over aterminal spherical male connector portion for a tenacious grip alongwith a flexible connection therebetween. Shoulder portions inwardly ofthe ends of the terminal male connector portions limit inward movementof the tubes and sheet material to form square corners and result inharmonious structures which will conform to a required scale.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an assembly of toy connector units,tubes and a rod embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through one of the toy connectorunits of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another form of connector unit having atube fastened to one of its terminal spherical connector portions.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 with the tube being movedinwardly from that shown in FIG. 3 and forced over the cylindricalconnector portion.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an assembly of two similar connectorunits with cylindrical connector portions joined side by side with atube.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembly of a pair of similarconnector units of a modified form with shoulders for limiting themovement of a tube along the male connector portions, the tubeconnecting the units being together with a second tube at right anglesto the first.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an assembly having apertured sheetsconnected with the connector unit of a modified form.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the toy assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another modified form of cylindricalconnector unit shown attached to an apertured sheet; and

FIG. I2 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of shaping for theconnector arms.

Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown an illustrative assemblycomposed of four typical tubes III, I2, I3 and I4 connected at theirends by typical connector units I6, I7, I8 and I9; the units havingportions hereafter described fully pressfitting into the ends of thetubes to make up a four-sided structural assembly together with a rod 20shown as secured within unit 17 which may support this unit and theassembly.

Connector unit I7 is exemplary of one preferred embodiment and generallycomprises a hollow cylindrical hub 22 having four connector arms 23radiating outwardly from the hub at equally spaced intervals from acommon center. Each connector arm 23 is of an identical size and shapeand includes a narrower base or spoke portion 23a attached to the huband an enlarged male connector portion 23b of spherical shape formed atthe outer end of the spoke portion.

Unit 19 is exemplary of another form of toy for a set and generallycomprises a hollow cylindrical hub 24 similar in construction and sizeto hub 22 having connector arms 25 radiating outwardly from the hub froma common center at equally spaced, 90 intervals; the connector arms 25being of an identical size and shape. Each connector arm 25, in contrastto those of connector unit 17 above described, has a constant crosssection throughout its length and is generally cylindrical with thebasic cylindrical shape being modified to the extent of having alongitudinal slot at 25a for added yieldability when forced into thetube or apertured sheets hereafter described to provide easier assemblyand disassembly of the parts.

The connector arms of units I7 and I9 are similar in that each arm has amale portion of generally circular cross section to provide frictionsurfaces which are sized to press fit into the tubes and aperturedsheets. The term generally as applied to the spherical, cylindrical andcircular shapes referred to herein is intended to characterize theconnector arms and male portions which are modified to the: extent ofhaving radial segments or portions removed from these shapes such as thelongitudinal slots, being hollow or having radial segments removed tosave material as described hereinafter.

In a set of toy connector units the openings of all the tubes and of theexternal dimension of the male connector portions of the pluralangularly disposed connector arms of both forms of connector units aredimensionally related and proportioned so as to press-fit one with theother. In addition, the external diameter of the hub is essentially thesame as that of the spherical and cylindrical male connector portions sothat the tubes will press-fit over the hub in a similar manner asillustrated in FIG. I between the hub unit I8 and tube I3. Preferably,the hub will extend outwardly from the center of the unit an equaldistance on each side and approximately the same distance as theradiating connectors to provide two additional cylindrical maleconnector portions at right angles to the others for added flexibilityand permit the unit to be used as a six-way connector for tubes to formmolecular type structures and the like, as it is readily apparent fromthe assembly of FIG. 1 that similar tubes may be press-fitted on theother exposed angularly disposed connector arms and hubs.

Toy unit 17 with spherical terminal connector portions 23badvantageously permits considerable flexibility in the angularrelationship between the end of the assembled tubes. As best shown inFIG. 2 the tube 13 is of a relatively thin-walled construction and hasan internal diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of thespherical portion 23b so that the end of the tube will expand as it ismoved thereover. The resulting connection between the tube and sphericalportion is a tenacious gripping action so that the structure formed willhold to its configuration even when supported from one part such as thesingle rod 20. At the same time this gripping action permits thestructure to be reshaped with a wide degree of flexural movement betweenthe tubes and the spherical portions. 7

For example, in the event the four tubes shown in FIG. 1 were connectedat each of the four comers to terminal spherical portions theconfiguration would be capable of being reshaped to a wider variety ofconfigurations and without breaking the corner connections between thetubes and the connector units. It is also noted that the narrowerportion 23a permits the tubes to turn or move through wider angles whenthe tube does not extend all of the way onto the connector but only farenough to have a firm grip on the spherical portion as is best shown inFIG. 2.

Toy unit 19 having the plurality of generally cylindrical male connectorportions 25 will serve to hold the adjacent ends of the tubes in aparticular angular relation as shown in FIG. 1 at right angles orend-to-end a particular distance apart and will normally be slid all theway onto the connector arm and abut the hub. Although the cylindricalmale connector portions are shown in FIG. 1 to join tubes, they are moreadvantageously used in association with apertured sheets in the mannerdescribed hereafter. As illustrated in FIG. 1 each connector unitpreferably will be provided with all of connector arms of a similartype, i.e., all spherical or all cylindrical male portions, with thespherical more advantageously connected with the tubes and thecylindrical more advantageously connected with sheet material hereafterdescribed.

The hub of unit 17 is shown as having a slot at one end at 27 and alsohas a pair of interiorly disposed, opposed lips 28 and 29 which restrictthe sizes of one end of the opening through the hub. This arrangementpermits the rod 20 suitably proportioned in size to be slidably insertedinto the opposite end of the hub and the unit rotates freely on the roduntil it is moved between the lips which secure the hub firmly to therod. In this manner the unit may be supported in an upright position ona rod or a plurality of these connector units may be stacked endto-endon a common rod.

An alternative form of connector unit 31 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4comprises a hollow cylindrical hub 32 with horizontal slots 32a and 32bin the ends having four identical connector arms 33 radiating outwardlyfrom the hub with a common center at 90 intervals. Each connector arm 33has a cylindrical male portion 33a attached to the hub, an intermediatenarrow portion 33b and a terminal generally spherical male portion 330at the outer end of the narrowed portion, all of which are arrangedalong a common center line or axis. Each generally spherical maleportion 33c has a slot 34 disposed along its length at 34 for addedyieldability thereof when the tube is inserted thereon. In this form atube 35 will fit over the terminal spherical portion 330 to provide aflexible connection as best shown in FIG. 3 and may be advanced furtheralong the connector arm 33 to fit over the cylindrical male connectorportion 33a to form a rigid connection. In this manner connector unit 31provides the combination of advantages of both fixed and yieldableconnections for tubes.

The toy assembly of FIGS. and 6 has similar connector units 38 and 39which are of generally the same construction as unit 19 above described;the units 38 and 39 having a hollow, slotted hub 41 and four connectorarms 42 of generally cylindrical shape radiating from the hub atintervals. Adjacent connector arms 42 of the two units are held joinedendto-end by a short length of tubing 45 which is press-fitted thereoverand corresponding connector arms of each unit are sligned with oneanother. It is readily apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6 that successivelengths of tubes on the opposite connector arms may be used to join aseries of connector units arranged along a common center line. Thealigned connector arms radiating from this common line ma be used tosupport a series of tubes reasonably close to one another in anessentially common planar arrangement to make a roof structure or thelike.

The toy assembly of FIGS. 7 and 8 has identical connector unitsgenerally designated 47 and 48 having their hubs 49 joined end-to-end bya short section of tubing 50. These connector units are provided withfour connector arms 51 radiating outwardly from the hub at 90 intervalswith narrower spoke portions of terminal spherical male portions and areof a construction generally similar to a unit as 17 above described. Agenerally spherical male portion is shown with concave dimples orremoved segments 51a in each quadrant which will save material andremain generally spherical. These units are also modified in that theyare provided with a pair of bumps or shoulders 52 and 53 formed on thehub on each side of the narrowed part of the connector arm 51, eachshoulder being of the same height and length so that the ends of four ofthese shoulders limit the movement of the tube 50 to a predetermineddistance from the center C of the connector unit. In addition, theseshoulder portions will limit a tube 54 placed over the radiatingconnector arm 51 to a predetermined distance from the center. Theshoulders are proportioned in size so that the comer of the tube 54radiating from the terminal spherical ball will form a clean right-angleconnection when the tubes are advanced all the way over the terminalspherical ball and narrowed part and against the hub with the distancefrom the end of the tube to the center of the unit always being thesame. These shoulders are particularly beneficial when the connectorunits are used to make structures with square comers and permit theprovision of a toy set having several selected lengths of tubing andconnector units of a uniform width to form structures which will conformto a selected scale.

In the assembly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 a connector unit 61 again has ahollow slotted cylindrical hub 62 and four connector arms 63 radiatingoutwardly from the hub at 90 intervals, one end portion of the hub 62and one connector serving to join two apertured sheets 64 and 65 atright angles to one another. These sheets have a plurality of openings66 of a uniform diameter which are disposed inwardly of the comers topermit the cylindrical hub portion 62 to be press-fitted on one aperturein sheet 64 and adjacent male portion of connector arm 63 to bepress-fitted in an aperture in sheet 65 to dispose the sheets at rightangles to one another in a harmonious manner with corners of the sheetsabutting. A third sheet will also fit on the adjacent connector arm 63so that a threedimensional structural comer is formed but this thirdsheet has been omitted for clarity. This connector unit 61 also has arelatively large square shoulder 67 and 68 on each side of the connectorarm which will limit the inward movement of the sheets on the hub andconnector arm to a selected distance from the center of the unit andserves as a supporting surface for the sheets. The modified form ofconnector unit 71 illustrated in FIG. 11 is also usable to connect withapertured sheets and is generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 9 and10. In addition the four cylindrical connector arms 72 disposed at 90intervals are modified in that the cylinder is formed with a pluralityof similarly dimensioned circumferential recess 74. The recesses arespaced at particular intervals along the length thereof. The cylinderhub 73 is smooth and hollow. In the assembly the apertured sheet will beforce-fitted over the end of the connector or hub and snap-fit into therecess. The sheet may be held at one of several selected distances fromthe center of the unit.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the cylindrical and sphericalshapes which provide a circular cross section for press-fittinginsertion into round apertures in tubes and sheets will provide thegreatest contact area. It is appreciated however that in molding theseconnector units that peripheral segments or portions may be removed tosave material and still provide similar results for some applications.For example, the basic circular cross section of an illustrativeconnector arm 81 shown in force-fitted 12 has radial segments 82 removedand the remaining peripheral friction surfaces 83 disposed in a Y-shaped configuration will press-fitinto the tubes and apertured sheets.For the terminal spherical portions these recesses or removed sectionsare in the form of circular dimples as shown at 51a in FIG. 7 and forthe cylindrical shapes longitudinal slots leaving sufficient surfaceareas to afford a substantial frictional engagement with the tubes andapertured sheets.

The arrangement and number of connector arms for one unit will be two ormore such as two, three, four, five or six at equally spacedcircumferentially arranged intervals for a complete set. More than sixare possible but for most structures not required. The four connectorarm arrangement disposed at 90 intervals about the hub as is illustratedherein is a preferred basic item which gives the greatest versatilitysince two will at 90 provide right angle connections and endto-endprovide two-way connections.

The above-described connector units may be readily injection-molded in asimple mold without coring and composed of a hard-surfaced, slightlyresilient material such as polypropylene. The tubes would preferably beextruded from material such as polyethylene and cut to one of severalselected lengths for a toy set. A typical thickness for the tube wouldbe one thirty-second inch. The apertured sheets may be easily made frompolypropylene and injection-molded in a simple mold. The connector unitsand particularly the combination of tubes and spherical connectorportions enables the user to build structures having a very highstrength to weight ratioand provides a toy which is practicallyindestructible. When the spherical connector portions are pulled apartthere is an audible popping sound which may also be entertaining to thechild.

While the present invention has been described with reference toparticular structure and preferred components, there is no intent tolimit the spirit of the present invention to these structures andcomponents and it will be understood that various modifications andchanges may be made without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:

ll. in a toy construction set, a three-dimensional connector unitcomprising a body having connecting means including a hollow generallycylindrical hub with an external surface at each end of the hub and aninternal surface within each external surface providing releasableexternal and internal connectors respectively on both ends of the hub, aplurality of relatively angularly disposed connector arms radiating fromthe hub in a common plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of saidhub, each said connector arm having a narrower base portion and anenlarged generally spherical terminal male portion with peripheralfriction surfaces of both ends of said hub and male portion having thesame external dimension and sized for press-fitting insertion through acorrespondingly sized opening in a member to be connected, each saidconnector arm including an inner generally cylindrical, male portionradially inwardly of said narrower base portion and axially alignedtherewith, the external dimension of said cylindrical male portion beingthe same as said spherical terminal male portion, each said cylindricaland spherical male portions of said connector arms being in alignment toallow for pressfitting insertion of said cylindrical portion through acorrespondingly sized opening of said member to be connected.

1. In a toy construction set, a three-dimensional connector unitcomprising a body having connecting means including a hollow generallycylindrical hub with an external surface at each end of the hub and aninternal surface within each external surface providing releasableexternal and internal connectors respectively on both ends of the hub, aplurality of relatively angularly disposed connector arms radiating fromthe hub in a common plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of saidhub, each said connector arm having a narrower base portion and anenlarged generally spherical terminal male portion with peripheralfriction surfaces of both ends of said hub and male portion having thesame external dimension and sized for pressfitting insertion through acorrespondingly sized opening in a member to be connected, each saidconnector arm including an inner generally cylindrical, male portionradially inwardly of said narrower base portion and axially alignedtherewith, the external dimension of said cylindrical male portion beingthe same as said spherical terminal male portion, each said cylindricaland spherical male portions of said connector arms being in alignment toallow for press-fitting insertion of said cylindrical portion through acorrespondingly sized opening of said member to be connected.